A/N: For those of you who are curious, The Unseen University is not the same one as the UU in Ahnk-Morpock. It is based on the university on continent
XXXX in Terry Prachett's "The Last Continent," which is clearly the discworld's version of Australia. By the way, the Henley-on-Todd boat race is real, and
has been cancelled twice in the past five years because of rain. Incidently, it rains in Alice Springs an average of three times a year.
"Malcolm," someone called out as the young Gryffindor came out of the Great Hall. Malcolm Baddock came running up to him, almost out of breath. "I came to find you. Something has happened."
[Tell me you've been expelled.]
"Osgoode sent me a message, and told me to find you," Baddock said, "It has something to do with the last seminar we went to. He wants to see the two of us in Hogsmeade right away."
"Does Dumbledore know about this?" Malcolm asked warily.
"He's the one who gave me the message," Baddock said, pulling a parchment out of his robes. "And a pass, in case we're stopped by any of the teachers. He also wants us back before the Tournament begins, or we won't be here next year."
"What's going on," Professor Moody asked, as he walked up to the two students. He took the parchment from Baddock and read it. Handing it back, he said, "The faster the two of you get there, the faster you'll get back. It must be important, if Osgoode came here himself, and Dumbledore gave his approval." He looked at Malcolm with his glowing magical eye, and added, "You, in particular. I want you to go straight to Hogsmeade, and straight back."
[Of course, I'll come straight back. Is it my fault that the shortest way is right past Zonko's Joke Shop.]
*
"Neville," Ginny asked, "I'm looking for Malcolm. Have you seen him?"
"Not since breakfast," Neville said, "He should be back shortly, though."
"I'm going to check one more place," Ginny said, "If you find him, let him know I'll be in the library, or on my way back here."
"You're spoiled," Neville said, "having Malcolm fly up and save the good seats all the time."
"Then tell me why you aren't waiting at the maze to get good seats."
"Because I'm spoiled, too. That's why I'm waiting here for Malcolm."
*
"He wasn't at the library," Ginny said, "I'm getting worried."
"Don't be," Fred told her, "Malcolm's probably up to something. He'll show up in his own time, and his own way.
"It's at the Quidditch Pitch, anyway," George added, "we'll all be in the towers, so there won't be any bad seats. Besides, Malcolm is probably going to be sitting with Hedwig, anyway."
Mollified, Ginny told her brothers, "save me a seat, then. I'm going to get a couple of things first."
As Ginny came down the stairs, she saw Neville still waiting, and smiled. Neville could barely pass as a wizard, but he always made high marks as a gentleman.
"I thought you would like someone to walk with." he said, "If you do have a bad seat, at least you'll have good company."
Neville laughed as Ginny turned a light pink. He could always make her blush. He was about to say something else, when an owl flew into the common room. It perched on a chair, then looked around as though it was confused. Then it held out its leg to Ginny, and she removed the letter.
"It's from Francis," Ginny said. "He's Malcolm's brother."
"Why is he writing you?"
"He isn't," Ginny said, "It's written to Malcolm." Suddenly, she gasped. "It's a warning."
Neville watched as Ginny read through the entire letter. She passed it to him, not saying a word. He took the paper and read:
Malcolm,
If you are reading this letter, then I'm not too late. If someone tells you that Osgoode wants to see you, it is a lie. He can't warn you directly, and came to me. Things are happening that are too important to joke about. Get to the headmaster, right away. All I know is that one of the teachers is a spy, and there is some kind of plot. If it's any relief, you're not the main target, but Osgoode says that you'll know who is. I've already left the academy, so don't try to contact me. I've also warned Mom and Dad.
Francis
PS: If Ginny or Draco reads this, then I was too late. You should know what to do, I hope.
The two students ran out of the common room, and down the halls towards the main doors. As they exited, both came to a halt, as they almost ran into Professor Moody.
"What is with the two of you," Moody said harshly, "You still have plenty of time to get to the tournament. You almost knocked me over, along with the Trophy Cup. How would it look if the winner picked up a dirty trophy?"
"Sorry," Ginny mumbled, "but Malcolm is in trouble."
"Malcolm is always in trouble," Moody said.
They showed him the letter from Francis, and he read it carefully. "So Osgoode is one of the good guys," he mused. "That is a very useful thing to know."
Moody looked at the two Gryffindors, with what was supposed to be a reassuring smile, and told them, "Malcolm's brother is right, the letter did come too late. But I want the two of you to know that the matter has already been taken care of. Malcolm is safe, although he has to talk to some important people first. As for the rest of it, You'll be hearing about this 'plot' after the Tournament."
"Then everything is fine?" Ginny asked in relief.
"Everything is more than fine, little lady," Moody said. "I've always told you, 'Constant Vigilance,' and, in this case, it has payed off. The two of you go on and get you seats, while I put the trophy in place. I'll show this letter to Dumbledore directly, if you don't object."
"Thanks, Professor," Ginny said, giving him an impulsive hug.
"Watch the trophy," Moody said with mock severity, "Now get going, or the third task will never start."
*
"It's about time," George said, "do you know how hard it is, trying to save two seats."
"Did you find Malcolm," Fred asked.
"Yes and no," Ginny said as she sat down, "Malcolm got into trouble again, but everything is all right. Dumbledore is going to explain it after the Tournament is over."
"It sounds serious," Hermione said.
"It is," Neville interjected, "but Moody says it all worked out. It seems that friends of You-Know-Who were planning something against Harry, but they were stopped."
"That's the best news I've heard all year," Ron shouted, "Now. I can honestly enjoy watching Harry compete."
*
"I don't believe it," Hermione said, "as Fred related what he saw though the Omniculars. He passed them over, and Hermione watched as Harry stopped Victor Krum with a stun spell. He had been casting the Crucio curse on Cedric Diggory. There was a general sigh of relief, when red sparks showed one of the champions in trouble.
"That isn't like him," Hermione said, "Viktor would never do anything like that."
"Well, he did," Fred snapped back, "We both saw it up close."
"Then, something is wrong," Hermione insisted, and a chill ran through the group.
No one was smiling anymore, as they strained to watch the remaining contestants move through the maze below. Hundreds were watching from above, as Cedric Diggory helped a limping Harry Potter to his feet. Murmurs of approval ran through the crowd as they approached the Trophy Cup together.
"No one will laugh at Hufflepuff, now," said a fifth year student from that house.
"No one ever did," George said to her, and they both smiled.
The shouting began immediately. Both Hogwarts Champions had grabbed the Cup at the same time, and both had promptly disappeared.
Almost immediately, the judges were apparating into the maze, and a few of the teachers had mounted brooms and were flying over the former Quidditch Field, and then over the surrounding area in ever increasing circles. Most of the spectators stayed glued to their seats, knowing only that this was not supposed to have happened.
"Moody!" Ginny said, suddenly realizing something. "He said everything would be fine."
"He must hate himself, right now," Fred told her, "The cup must have been a portkey. And they managed to get it past him."
"No they didn't," Neville said, in a serious tone, "Moody carried the Trophy Cup into the maze. They didn't get it there past him, they got it there through him."
"Moody's the spy?" Ginny asked in disbelief.
"He said he was good at his job," George said in disgust, "Now we know what his job was."
"They're back," Hermione cried in joy and relief, as two figures reappeared in the maze, then they noticed that one of the figures wasn't moving.
In a rush, all six of them tried to get out of the tower, but other people had the same idea, that it took much longer than they had hoped. By the time any of them could find a teacher, it was already over.
"Dumbledore is taking care of things right now," Madam Hooch assured them, " and I do know how you feel. All of us found out the truth, too late. The poor boys."
"Madam Hooch," Ginny said impatiently, "It wasn't only Harry. Malcolm is missing."
"How long has he been missing?"
"We last saw him at breakfast," Neville explained, "but Professor Moody told us that Malcolm was fine, that he needed to talk to some important people first."
"Go to your common room and wait there," Madam Hooch demanded as her face paled, "that way we know where to find you. Dumbledore will want to talk to you. I know that." She grabbed her broom and flew the short distance to the Castle, then threw it away as she ran inside.
The six students walked silently back to the tower, their numbers growing as others joined them. As they set around the common room, some students began to talk, but most waited in silence. It was late when Madam Hooch appeared, pale and angry.
"Harry Potter is going to be fine," She told the students who were still up. "Mr. Longbottom, and Miss Weasley, Professor Dumbledore wants to talk to you is you are up to it. And I am asking the rest of you to try to sleep. There is nothing you can do at this point."
*
"If only I had known about Malcolm earlier," Dumbledore said, "I had Crouch in my hands. I could have made him tell me."
"Albus, you did all that you could," McGonagall said.
Neville and Ginny sat quietly in their chairs. This was not the Professor Dumbledore that they knew. This was an angry man, who was fully capable of doing anything.
"Professor," Madam Pomfrey said, as she entered the room, "You need to come to the infirmary."
"Is it Harry?" He asked in sudden concern.
"Harry is fine," Madam Pomfrey said, "A pair of Slytherin students brought Malcolm Baddock in. He appears to be suffering from the long term effects of the Imperious Curse."
Without saying a word, Dumbledore left his office with the school nurse. The two students stared at each other, then at Professor McGonagall.
"What happened?" Ginny asked with a quivering lip.
"I won't lie to you," Professor McGonagall told her, "Albus has already decided to reveal everything, anyway." She paused, then said, in a steady voice, "Voldemort has returned." She paused again, then added, "He killed Cedric Diggory, and he almost killed Harry Potter. He managed to replaced one of our teachers, Professor Moody, with a spy, and, through him, lured them into a trap. Apparently Malcolm was lured into the trap as well, and you know as much as I do about Baddock. There is a great deal more to tell, but that is the heart of the matter."
"Can the spy tell you what happened to Malcolm?"
"The spy is dead."
"Then, what about Malcolm?"
"I don't know, dear. We can only hope."
"He'll be fine," Neville said with a cheerfulness he didn't feel. "Malcolm is like a cat, he always lands on his feet. He'll probably walk into the Great Hall tomorrow and tell us what Paris was like."
Ginny laughed at the thought, and gave Neville a hug in thanks.
"I'll take the two of you back now," McGonagall said, with a thin smile, "It is getting late, and you don't want to miss Malcolm when he shows up. It's almost dawn, as it is."
*
"How are the two of you doing," Hermione asked as Ginny and Neville entered the common room
Ginny nodded and sat down in front of the fireplace. Neville looked at Hermione and shrugged his shoulders. "She's worried about Malcolm. Ginny always thought of him as a little brother, and . . . it's hard on her."
"Maybe he's hiding," Hermione said, "He's done that before when he's been scared."
"Nice try," Ginny said sarcastically, "but where could he hide, that no one would find him. McGonagall told me that they've already searched the school."
"For a student," Hermione said, "but they may not have realized that they're dealing with an animagus. I'm not saying I'm right, but it might be worth a try to look in the owlery."
Ginny was already on her feet, and Neville was thanking Hermione for her quick thinking. Hermione gave him a smile, and said lightly, thinking of a beetle she had recently captured, "I have experience in finding animagi. Of course, I would think of it. Let's go."
*
"How is everyone doing, Poppy," Albus Dumbledore asked.
"Potter is fine," Madam Pomfrey said. "Malcolm Baddock is also fine, physically at least. You can talk to him as soon as he wakes up." She turned to the headmaster, and asked, "Albus, how are you?"
"It's been a long night, and it isn't over yet. Our young animagus is still missing. I've tried to contact his parents but I haven't received any answer. I'm waiting now for a reply from David Winter, with the American government. He promised to check on them, personally."
"You look tired."
"I am tired, Poppy, very tired. But I don't think I'll have a chance to rest for a while yet."
"You have time right now, Albus," Poppy said, pointing sternly to a bed, "I'll wake you immediately, if you are needed."
Dumbledore began to object until he saw the look on Madam Pomfrey's face. Giving her his first smile of the day, he lay down for a brief nap.
*
The three Gryffindors walked briskly to the owlery. It was a compromise, because Ginny was ready to run the entire way. As they entered, all of the owls were quiet, although only a few were asleep.
"You're the brains, Hermione," Neville said, "where do we look."
"He likes the rafters," Hermione said, "but Hedwig likes him, and I've seen them together several times. There's Hedwig." Hermione pointed out the snowy owl on her perch.
"And there's Sleeping Beauty," Neville said, as he spotted the smaller tawny owl curled under Hedwig's wing."
Ginny went over to the perch, and her face turned pale. "There's blood. Lot's of it."
"I'll get help," Neville said, as he sped from the room.